How To Apply For SCUML Certificate In Nigeria (2025)

This article is about how to apply for SCUML certificate in Nigeria currently in this year 2025. The SCUML certificate, to put it simply, is a document that is given to Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) in order to supervise, monitor, and regulate them in an effort to fight and stop money laundering in Nigeria. Institutions, businesses, or companies that often do not deal in the finance industry are considered Non-Financial Businesses and Professions.

These DNFBPs are the opposite of financial establishments like commercial and microfinance banks. They operate in industries where money laundering is more likely to thrive. The EFCC created SCUML to examine these operations and distinguish legitimate businesses from illegal ones since these types of businesses or entities deal with large amounts of cash and may be used to carry out money laundering.

SCULM: A GENERAL OVERVIEW

SCUML, which is an acronym for the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, was established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in September 2005 in compliance with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004 which was subsequently repealed and amended to Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and most recently to Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

SCUML was created as part of measures for the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations on Anti- Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in Nigeria. The FATF requires Countries to implement 40 Recommendations which are considered as international standard for combating money laundering and terrorist financing as well as the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The recommendations include amongst others the establishment of Legal and Institutional framework for the effective implementation of the AML/CFT measures in all Countries. This led to the enactment of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011, (as amended) in Nigeria. SCUML was created to implement specific sections of the Act in line with the FATF recommendations for the implementation of AML/CFT measures within the Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) Sector in Nigeria.

SCUML is statutorily under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment but operationally domiciled within the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as the Commission drives the operational activities of the Unit in line with Sections 6(C) and 7(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.

Chartered Accountants, Estate Developers, Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Estate Agents, Audit Firms, Tax Consultants, Clearing and Settlement Companies, Hotels, Casinos, Supermarkets, Dealers in Mechanized Farming Equipment and Machineries, Practitioners of Mechanized Farming, Non-Governmental Organizations are all considered Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) under Section 25 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. Money lending businesses and a select few additional companies have since been included in the category.

GUIDE ON HOW TO APPLY FOR SCUML CERTIFICATE IN NIGERIA 2025 

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, You can apply online for SCUML registration at https://scuml.org uploading necessary documents relating to your company; receipt of the documents is acknowledged online; SCUML then verifies them in 10 working days after which if application is approved a certificate is issued.

The following are, for the most part, the necessary requirements for SCUML registration for various categories of DNFBPs in Nigeria this 2025:

BUSINESS NAME

• Certificate of Incorporation,
• BN FORM 01, (Proprietor’s Particulars)
• Evidence of tax registration (TIN letter) and
• Professional certificate where applicable.
• BVN, Bank Name, and Account Number.

COMPANIES

• Certificate of Incorporation
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• Form CAC 1.1 (CAC 2 and CAC 7 for Old Registration)
• Evidence of tax registration (Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• BVN, Bank Name, and Account Number.

TRUST/NGO

• Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
• Incorporation of Trustees or CAC7 and CAC 2
• Identification of Trustees with a valid means of identification
• Constitution/Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Tax Exemption
• Particulars of Settlors
• Particulars of Protector (if any)
• Copy of Cooperation Agreement (For international NGOs)
• Trust Deed Agreement
• BVN, Bank Name, and Account Number.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION

• Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
• Incorporation of Trustees
• Identification of Trustees with a valid means of identification
• Constitution.

ASSOCIATION/CLUBS/SOCIETIES

• Certificate of Incorporation/Registration
• Copy of Constitution/Bye-Laws etc
• Particulars of the trustees
• Reliable means of Identification of at least two of the trustees
• Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Tax Exemption
• BVN, Bank Name, and Account Number.

In addition to the aforementioned general requirements, organizations that have the following business objectives in their Memorandum and Articles of Association—mining, export, investment, and Pharmacy, must make sure that the necessary approvals, authorizations, and licenses are attached to their applications. Institutions that offer professional services must also meet additional requirements; for example, accounting firms must also attach a professional certificate such as ICAN or ANAN or ACCA.

Estate surveyors and valuers must attach a certificate from the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESVs) or a certificate from the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), and construction companies must attach a COREN membership certificate, a Nigerian Society of Engineers membership certificate, and REDAN. Consulting firms must attach the appropriate consulting certificate, and real estate dealers must attach the REDAN certificate. Dealers in precious stones and metal must attach an exploration license or permit from the Ministry of Solid Minerals and a license from a Certified Geologist. Clearing and forwarding companies must attach proof of registration with the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA).

CONCLUSION

It is imperative to note that if any DNFBP refuse to register with SCUML, not only will they be unable to keep bank accounts with financial institutions, but they could also face criminal charges against them and their officers. That said, SCUML registration is one of the most important aspects of starting a business in Nigeria, and it is a requirement that every organization that has been designated as a DNFBP must meet in order to operate successfully in Nigeria.